Hood latch



C. B, GILMORE HOOD LATCH Filed Jan. 24, 1925 [Eve/nib?" kasrZep .25 QTY/Z7720;

Patented Apr. 27,1926.

UNITED STATES CHARLES B. GILMORE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T CHICAGO FOBGING x&;

MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATIONzOF ILLINOIS.

noon LArorr.

Application filed January '24, 1825. SerialNo. 4,368.

This invention relates to a fastening device, and particularly to a device intended for use as an automobile hood latch. One

object of the invention is to provide a device which will be used as a hood latch and which while serving to hold the hood down and closed'will also force the hood in and I against other parts of the automobile, and thus hold the hood against rattling. Other objects will appear from 'time to time throughout the specification and claims.

My invention is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of one form of the latch showing it in' position on the automobile Figure 2 is a vertical cross section taken on line 22 of Figure 1; I

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing a modified form with parts in section;

Figure 4 is an elevation of theform shown in Figure 3 with parts in section.

, Like parts are designated by like characters throughout.

A is a portion of an automobile frame. To-

it is fastened an upstanding rib or holding part A against which a part of the hood cover B rests when the hood is closed. Fastened to the hood cover is an inclined locking member 13*. It is preferably mounted so that it may be moved lateral y for adjustment. The inching member provided with an inclined portion B having upstanding edges or lips B C is a shaft squared as at C and rounded as at C and provided with. a reducedportion C. It is mountedupon the member A, in a fitting D and provided with an engaging part D adapted to be forced into contact with a narrowed portion C of the shaft 0. The shaft is provided with an enlarged washer or other lateral projecting member C adjacent its upper end.

Surrounding the shaft is an enclosing and in the position shown'in Figures 1 and 2 to i resist upward movement of the member E.

The member E has an open sidefacing the hood- Mounted across and above this side is alatch memberG. It is provided at its lower end with a laterally bent portion Gr having a square opening G in it and through this opening the shaft C passes. At its upper end the member G is laterally and downwardly bent as at G to provide a handle. Intermediate its endsit is provided with an inclined cam portion .G which when the parts are in the locking position bears with a cam action. upon ,the inclined face B of the member B and holds the hood portion closed, and also with the cam action forces it inward to prevent rattling movement of the parts.

In the modified form shown in Figures 3 and 4-a square shaft H is mounted for' swinging movement on a pin H carried in a bearing supporting member H At its upper end the shaftH is provided with a laterally enlarged washer H The shaft H is provided with a rounded portion H above the squaredporticn at the lower end. Surrounding the shaft H is a generally cylindrical handle member I. It is provided with laterally extended handle portions I I and is closed at its bottom by a closing member I? which is provided with a squareopening through whichthe shaft H passes. Sur

rounding the shaft H within the housing member I, bearing at one end upon the member I and at the other upon the member 'H is a helical spring 1 which tends to hold the parts in the position shown and resist upward movement of the handle member.

Extending laterally from the member I. is a hook portion J. This hook portion is provided as shown with a similar inclined cam surface J J K is an .inclined handle member mounted on the hood B. "When the hood is closed,

one of the cam surfaces J of the hook J bears with a cam action upon the handle member K and holds the parts locked and also forces the hood 'membgr B inward to are as follows:

When the hood is to be opened, the handle is raised. Thelocking cam portion of the member G is moved out of engagement with the member B and the hook may be swung downward to the side out of the way. The hood may then be opened. When the device is again to be locked the hood is closed, the

' handle portion is raised, pulled upward and the locking member is brought into engagement again with the member B and in this position because of the inclined contacting faces of the two parts 13 G the hood is' held closed and is also forced inward. Thus when wear of the parts takes place under the action of the spring, the parts will be forced constantly together, and even though as a result of wear the hood portion B may move farther in, the pressure of the spring will force the lockin member G* farther down and the hood wil always be forced inward so faras there is any contact of the parts G upon the part B In the form shown in Figures 3 and 4; the locking action is the same as that above described, the cam face J being forced by the spring against the handle member K; The shaft is square and an enclosing member is provided with a square perforation so that relative rotation of. the two is normally impossible. It is desirable, however, to

- member is not drawn up far enough to reach the rounded portion. When, however, it is -desired to rotate the handle member about the shaft, it is drawn up farther than is usual in opposition" to the spring, and then the square closing portion I moves upon the rounded portion of the shaft H and rotation of the two is possible. Then the receiving member on said closure, said cam face adapted to be seated upon said receiving member to hold the clospre closed and to force the same inward.

2. In combination with a closure and a latch support, a latch for said closure pivotally mounted upon said support, and adapted to be swung laterally past said closure and held against movement away from said closure, said latch including a hook member provided with an inclined cam face, and a hook receiving member on said closure, said cam face ad agted to be seated upon said receiving mem closed and to force the same inward.

3. In combination with a closure and a latch support, a latch pivotally mounted on said support and adapted to be moved along said closure and held against movement away from said closure, said latch including a movable latch member normally spring held in engaging position, said member providedwith an inclined cam face, and a latch er to hold the closure engaging member on said closure, said inclined face adapted to engage and IQ be seated upon said latch engaging member to hold the closure down and to force the same inward.

a 4. In combination with a closure and a latch support, means for holding the closure closed and for forcing the same progressively inward, said means including a latch member pivotally mounted on said support for movement past said closure and held against movement away from said closure, and an engaging member on said closure, said latch including a movable, inclined cam member adapted to be received by said seating member and thereby to hold the closure down and to force the same inward.

5. In combination with an automobile, a

hood, a latch member mounted adjacent said hood, and adapted to rotate about an axis generally at right angles to said hood, and held against swinging movement outward from said hood, said latch member provided with an inclined cam engaging member and having a spring adapted normally to hold said member down, there being mounted upon said hood a cam receiving member adapted to be en aged by said cam member whereby the hood is held closed and forced inward by the cam action of said two members one upon the other.

6. In combination with mounted upon said support, and adapted to be swung along said closure and held against movement away from said closure, said latch including a pix oted shaft member and a hollow casing enclosingthe same, a hook member supported from said shaft, a sprmg in said caslng adapted to resist outward movement of said hook member, said hook member provided with an inclined cam face,

and a hook receiving member on said closure,

said cam adapted to be seated upon said receiving member to hold the closure closed and to force the sameinward.

7. In combination with .a closure anda latch support, a' latch for said closure mounted upon said supportand adapted to v be moved laterally past said closure and held 4 against movement away fromsaid closure,

, the latch including a shaft having a squared portion and a cylindrical housing mounte '25 upon said shaft, a spring about said shaft within said housing adapted to'resist outward movement of the housing along the shaft, said housing provided with an inclined hook member and a hook receiving member on said closure, said hook adapted to be seated upon said receiving member to hold the closure Jclosed.

' ,8. In combination with a closure and a latch support, a latch for said closure mounted upon said support and adapted to be moved laterally past said closure and i held against movement away from said closure, the latch including a shaft having a squared portion and a cylindrical housing mounted upon said shaft, a spring-about said shaft within said housing adapted to resist outward movement of the housing along the shaft, said housing provided with an inclined cam hook member and a hook receiving member on sald closure, said hook adapted to be seated upon said receiving member to hold the c osure closed, said housing provided with a closure having a square opening. embracing the square shaft, the shaft provided with a rounded portion whereby when the housing'is raised above *a'blosure and a latch support, a latch for said closure its normal travel it may be rotated about the shaft to bring the hook "on the opposite side.

9. In combination with a closure and a latch support, a latch for said closure mounted upon said support, and adapted to be moved laterally past said closure and held against movement away from said closure,

said latch including an engaging part proi ber provided with an inclined cam face, and a receiving member on'said closure, said engaging member adapted to be seated upon said geceivmg member to hold the closure close d 11. In a hood latch the combination with a closure, of a latch support pivoted adjacent thereto on an axis at right angles to the face of the closure, a latch element slidable along said support, yielding means normally tending to thrust said latch downwardly along said support and a cam-connection between said latch and said support adapted to exert pressure downwardly and inwardly against the lower edge of the closure.

"12. In a hood latch the combination with a closure, of a latch support pivoted adjacent thereto on an axis at right angles to the face of the closure, a latch element slidable along said support, yielding means normally tending to thrust I said latch downwardly along said support, a downwardly and outwardly inclined cam member mounted on said closure and an opposed upwardly and inwardly inclined cam member mounted upon said latch and adapted to seat upon said first mentioned cam.

Signed at Chicago, county of Cook and State of Illinois, this 19thday of January CHARLES B. GILMORE. 

